[CTSARA] Your help is requested for HR-4969

[John Amarilios]

A few minutes from each of our members could make a big impression -

73's
John Amarilios
K1JAA


Subject: Your help is requested for HR-4969

The September copy of QST should be in your mailbox shortly.  Please pay special attention to the editorial on Page 9 from Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, regarding The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014 (or H.R. 4969) that was recently introduced in the US House of Representatives. 

This legislation offers Amateur Radio the best chance for us to deal
with antenna restrictions in decades.   While PRB-1 has been very
effective in dealing with local, state and federal restrictions for private property, it did not address the needs of the thousands of licensed hams living in property (~25 million housing units nationwide) restricted by CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions) that are usually present in condominium and subdivisions.  HR-4969 will open the door to discussions about reasonable accommodation.

Two New England House members have already signed on as co-sponsors, Joe Courtney from Connecticut's 2nd District and Peter Welch,
member-at-large from Vermont.   There are nineteen other House members
in New England that are potential co-sponsors and we should be asking all of them for their support.

Will You Help?

We need two kinds of support in order to get this legislation moving, the first one is for you to take the time to write to your Congressperson and ask for his or her support for HR.4969.  A few dozen letters from constituents really sends a message.

Here is a sample letter: 

       http://www.arrl.org/files/file/HR%204969/Draft%20letter.docx

If you are logged into the ARRL web site you can find your Congressperson here:

      
http://www.arrl.org/contacting-your-congressional-representatives

Otherwise, you can look up the email or postal address via:
 
       http://House.gov

Make sure to send us a copy of your letter by email to n1nd at arrl.org with the words "HR 4969 letter" in the SUBJECT field of the email or by US mail to 

      ARRL
      Attn: HR 4969 letter campaign
      225 Main St
      Newington, CT 06111

The second step is to set up meetings with each member of Congress.  If you know your Representative personally or through professional connections, please let me know.  If you have CC&R restrictions on your
present ability to put up an antenna, let me know.   

House members should be in their home district from now until the end of the first week of September, then will be back in Washington for two weeks.  The next few weeks are ideal times to meet with them locally.  
We can work with you to make sure you have the information needed for a successful presentation.

For More Information

The ARRL Atlantic Division is sponsoring a webinar on HR 4969.   New
England Division members are invited (encouraged) to attend (I will).

ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay W3KD and ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco N2YBB will talk about HR 4969 and what it mean for ARRL members and how we can help effect its benefits.  This session will be moderated by ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar N3LLR.

This webinar will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 from 9:00pm to 10:30pm ET.  To join in, please register as soon as possible at this
URL: 

        https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/296315552

The text of the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014:

      
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/HR%204969/Kinzinger-Courtney%20HR-4969.pdf

Additional information on HR-4969 is on the ARRL web site:

       http://www.arrl.org/hr-4969

Let me know if you have any questions and thanks in advance for your help!


Tom Frenaye, K1KI
New England Division Director
860-668-5444
K1KI at arrl.org

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ARRL New England Division
Director: Thomas Frenaye, K1KI
k1ki at arrl.org
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